SATISH SHARMA - not just Rotigraphy.: The US is trying to ground Iranian flights. Yet today, Iran operated over 60 flights to more than 30 international destinations.

https://x.com/aprajitanefes/status/2104393433091817764

|The US is trying to ground Iranian flights. Yet today, Iran operated over 60 flights to more than 30 international destinations.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent issued a threat: any airport that refuels Iranian aircraft, provides landing services, or sells tickets for them will be cut off from the US dollar system. Iraq closed its doors. Oman closed. Georgia closed. Azerbaijan closed. Turkiye partially closed.

Yet Iran Air did not stop. Today, Imam Khomeini International Airport handled over 60 flights to more than 30 international destinations.

This comes directly from the airport's CEO. It is not a "plan." It is not a "hope." These flights actually took place today.

What do "over 30 international destinations" mean?

Not one. Not five. More than thirty. It means Iranian aircraft are flying to:

 China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Urumqi.
 Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan.
 Central Asia: Tashkent, Dushanbe, Almaty, Bishkek, Ashgabat.
 South Asia: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Mumbai, New Delhi.
 Middle East: Istanbul, Ankara, Dubai, Doha, Muscat, Baghdad, Najaf, Beirut, Damascus.
 Southeast Asia: Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta.
Africa: Cairo, Algiers, Tunis, Addis Ababa.

Not a single one of these countries has stopped accepting Iranian flights due to US threats.

What do "over 60 flights" mean?

More than 60 flights in a single day from just one airport. These are not "symbolic flights." This is normal operation. It means:

 Iranian citizens traveling abroad.
 Foreigners entering Iran.
 Cargo transport.
 Business travel.
 Visiting family and friends.
 Medical transfers. 
 Students returning to school.
Pilgrims traveling back and forth.

What the US wants to cut off is not the "Iranian regime's transport links," but the normal lives of millions of Iranians.

Who is flying?

Iran Air. Mahan Air. Qatar Airways. Turkish Airlines (on select routes). Emirates. Iraqi Airways. Azerbaijan Airlines. Turkmenistan Airlines. Uzbekistan Airways. Air Astana (Kazakhstan). Pakistan International Airlines. China Southern Airlines. Aeroflot. And dozens of other airlines.

They haven't stopped flying just because of a threatening letter from the US Treasury. Because their governments didn't comply. Because their airports need the business from Iran. Because their citizens need to travel to Iran. Because their businesspeople need to trade with Iran.

The US blockade is collapsing

The US tried to ground Iran's flights. The result:

 China continues to accept Iranian flights.
Russia continues to accept Iranian flights.
The five Central Asian nations continue to accept Iranian flights.
 Pakistan continues to accept Iranian flights.
 Najaf (Iraq) refused to stop; Baghdad is seeking exemptions.
Istanbul (Türkiye) operations continue.
 Dubai (UAE) operations continue.
 Doha (Qatar) operations continue.
 Muscat (Oman) continues negotiations.
Operations to over 30 destinations continue.

The US can threaten Iraq. It can threaten Oman. It can threaten Georgia. It can threaten Azerbaijan. But it cannot threaten China. It cannot threaten Russia. It cannot threaten Central Asia. It cannot threaten Pakistan. It cannot threaten India. It cannot threaten all 30-plus destinations.

Because most countries in the world do not host US military bases. They do not rely on the US dollar. They do not depend on SWIFT access. They do not rely on US aid. They do not need US permission to operate flights to and from Iran.